Usul al-Hadith (principles of hadith) is a highly developed discipline in Islam. It deals with the methodology of source criticism of hadith. Many works dealing with this science have been produced since the early period of Islam. Nuzhat al-Nazar Sharh Nukhbat al Fikar by Hafiz Ahmad ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, the 9th/15th century hadith master, is a very famous text in this field. It is prescribed in the curriculum of every madrasah and hadith centre. This seminar will cover the study of Ibn Hajar’s book with detailed commentary and practical examples from famous collections. Every student will receive a signed certificate and Ijazah from Shaykh Akram for Nukhbat al Fikar and hadith musalsal bil-awwaliyyah linking them to the Prophet (SAW).

"How magnificent to have spent a weekend in the company of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and his companions, reading and studying their ahadeeth. I feel as though I was transported to their times and have returned with renewed strength and resolve to continue the work we need to do in the ‘Daar ud-Da’wah’ we live in. I am sitting here with Ijaazah in hand feeling honoured that Allah allowed me to be a student of Sheikh Akram Nadwi and through him find some connection with some of the great scholars of our past. From his poignant scholarly anecdotes, to his emphatic exhortations, punctuated with Urdu and Persian poetry; studying with the Sheikh is a truly enriching experience. I’m actually learning a lot from him both about rectifying myself and the most important focal points for that and rectifying some of the causes of the downfall of our Ummah today. Without resorting to alienating any particular group or school of thought, the Sheikh is not afraid to hold a mirror up to what needs changing in our communities and in our times. I liked the balance of holistic spiritual principles and finer technical details Sheikh also discussed and his lessons are suitable for serious students of knowledge and people who are in the early stages of their journey. I look forward to future courses. I found the crèche facility to be very useful. I would have found it very difficult to attend without it. The venue was great and respected the privacy of brothers and sisters. May Allah make knowledge a proof for us and not against us. Ameen."- Fatima Barkatullah, London

"Of all the scholars I have had the opportunity to study with, I have found Shaikh Akram Nadwi to be the closest, in knowledge, manners and teaching, to how I would imagine some of the great Hadith scholars of the past would have been. He has a vast knowledge of Qur'an, Hadith and Fiqh, a down-to-earth, humble, approachable style, and great teaching ability. His classes are not just beneficial from a learning perspective, but also to marvel at the awe-inspiring wealth of knowledge of our scholars masha Allah. His 57 volume work going through the biographies of some 8,500 women scholars of Hadith is a monumental endeavour. The mere fact of its existence can be a major talking point in discussion with Muslims and non-Muslims, and is almost a stand-alone proof of Islam's unparalleled wealth of female scholarship." - Dr Omar Mahroo, Cambridge

There has been a lot of debate and discussion in the media and politics about the place of Muslims in British society. The focus recently has been on Muslim women's dress in public places and gender segregation at university Islamic Society events. Many Muslims feel they have been unfairly targeted by secularists, politicians and the media. The response from Muslims is mixed. At one end of the spectrum there are Muslims who think that this country has every right to impose its values upon us and we must integrate with its culture and keep matters of religion private in order to be considered British Muslims. At the other end there are Muslims who believe that we have every right to practise our religion openly and in public and moreover we don't have to be "British" as it is not possible to be both "British" and "Muslim" at the same time. In between these two ends, there are a multitude of other views.

The situation we are in is not unique. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam and his companions were living as a minority under secular rule in a non-Muslim state - Makkah - as were many other Prophets and Messenger before, such as 'Eesa 'alayhis-salaam living under Roman rule and Yusuf 'alayhis-salaam living under Egyptian rule. So what was their concern and focus under those circumstances? Was it niqab, gender segregation, halal meat and shariah law or something else? What was their view on being Roman Muslims?

No doubt these are very important questions for us living in Britain. But where should we get our answers from? The Qur'an addresses these issues head on in the Makkan surahs that were revealed to the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam. Among these surahs are Surah Al-Mutaffifin and Surah Al-Inshiqaq. So if you want to know what our Lord says about niqab, gender segregation and being a British Muslim then please attend tomorrow's seminar on these two surahs taught by Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi - one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the Western world today.

"Jazakumullahu khayran. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity. I am so impressed by the Sheikh, subhanallah, mashaAllah. A very rare example of tradition fused with awareness of the environment and reality while not compromising God consciousness. If only there were more like him. Questions, I'm so glad we can ask them even if it's not about the sura. Yes, how else are we to learn from his wisdom and experience if we don't ask? The issues facing Muslims in the West are so many and so confusing and I just love the fact that he does not have an inferiority complex about Islam. It's really sad to see psychologically defeated scholars start throwing away tradition in the name of progress and fitting in. Sheikh Akram Nadwi gives you the sense that the real life is in the hereafter so don't have to get so tied up with the philosophies and controversies that sometimes take away our attention from the real purpose. The onus is on us, are we being pious?"- Aisha Barkatulla, Cambridge

"I recently attended the Tafsir of Surah Nuh. Whilst I had heard much about Shaykh Akram, this was my first class with him. The first thing that you cannot help but appreciate is how the Shaykh hooks you with his connection to knowledge, in a pure sense, there was no need to employ any speaking tactics to keep the attendees engrossed. The Shaykh, made every point relevant, to connect the text with our lives today and our response to get closer to our Creator. Indeed the Shaykh mentioned countless gems that he mentioned offhand but when contemplated on, really struck a chord in the heart. It was also great that the Shaykh was very open to questions, however sensitive, and tackled them head on, without compromising the principles of our faith, exemplifying that Allah azza wa jal has not only blessed him with knowledge, but also wisdom. I don't say this lightly, I genuinely believe, if you have the opportunity to study with the Shaykh, and you don't take it, then you have missed out on tasting the fruits of the knowledge of the Scholarship of our time and land"- Umer Suleman, South London

Saturday, 21 December 2013

The whole world is awaiting the coming of Christmas and the
New Year. This is a time when everyone is so eager to make themselves
and their loved ones happy by spending on clothes, food, decorations,
gifts, celebrations and holidays. Although Christmas is meant to be a
celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, it is now observed as a
cultural holiday by the religious and non-religious alike. Christmas
and New Year have in fact become celebrations of materialism. The irony
is that the life of Jesus Christ was the epitome of spirituality - the
exact antithesis of materialism.

The state of the people who prefer materialism over
spirituality is perfectly described by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in many
surahs of the Qur'an. From these surahs, Surah Al-Mutaffifin and Surah
Al-Inshiqaq are two surahs in Juz 'Amma which deal with the root causes
of materialism.

<<Woe
to those who give short measure, who demand of other people full
measure for themselves, but give less than they should when it is they
who weigh or measure for others! Do these people not realize that
they will be raised up on a mighty Day, a Day when everyone will stand
before the Lord of the Worlds?>> [Surah Al-Mutaffifin: 83:1-6]

<<He used to live among his people well pleased. He thought he would never return [to his Lord]–– indeed he will! His Lord was watching him.>> [Surah Al-Inshiqaq 84:13-15]

The biggest problem of people throughout history has been that they either do not believe in the Hereafter or they are careless about it. Jesus Christ came to bring spirituality to the lives of people and to remind them of the reality of the Hereafter. So how could a Muslim make the most of Christmas & New Year?

We can study what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is teaching us in these two surahs about materialism and spirituality.

Hadith is the second fundamental source of Islam after the Qur'an, but many are unaware of the history, science and classification of Hadith. In this course students will be introduced to the sciences of Hadith based on Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's classical work on the nomenclature of the Hadith scholars. 'Nukhbat al-Fikar' of Imam Ibn Hajar is regarded as a masterpiece; summarising larger works of scholars before him such as Al-Hakim, An-Naisaburi, Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and Ibn Salah.

Thursday, 12 December 2013

People need rest, relaxation and recreation for a purpose. Without them it would be difficult to be a fully functioning human being. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentions this in the Qur'an as follows:

<< Did they not see that We gave them the night for rest, and the day for light? There truly are signs in this for those who believe.>> [Qur'an 27:86]

However Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala also mentions that rest, ease and relaxation has to come with hardship.

<< So truly where there is hardship there is also ease; truly where there is hardship there is also ease. The moment you are freed [of one task] work on, and turn to your Lord for everything.>> [Qur'an 94:5-8]

Commenting on this topic, Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi says:

"Ease is through hardship. Muslims should be suspicious of ease which does not involve any effort. The obvious example of that is watching television. The only effort it requires is to push a button. It would actually be better to sleep rather than to watch TV. There are certain things that the Prophet salallahu 'alayhi wasallam sanctioned which nowadays are put under the category of entertainment; for instance, sports such as archery, horse-riding and swimming ..." - Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi

If rest, ease and purposeful recreation must come through toil and hardship then how should we consider often-mindless modern forms of entertainment? Do we find ourselves asking the question 'Without such entertainment what could we do?' or 'What can we then do for recreation?' and 'what can we give our children?' - Is life to be always serious and dull or are there real alternatives that can give us far more relaxation, enjoyment and fulfilment than any modern day entertainment ever could?

Coming up this Saturday is a seminaron Recreation, Leisure and Entertainment - The Islamic Perspectiveby Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi, one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the Western world today. The first of its kind in the UK, this is your opportunity to discover what true recreation is and how it can change your life.

A full-day seminar on the concepts of recreation and leisure in Islam and the Islamic view on modern day phenomena such as music, entertainment, television, movies, games, sports, “weekends”, holidays, shopping, fashion, socialising and celebrations.

Today the popular entertainment industry is at its peak. We have also joined the bandwagon to create an "Islamic" or "Halal" entertainment industry. These include TV channels, movies, cartoons, concerts, nasheeds, comedy shows, talk shows, fashion events, shopping events, news, theme parks, entertaining seminars and amusing talks. The common answer given when asked about this is that "we need an alternative". But many of us fail to ask the all important questions 1. "Why do we need an alternative?" and 2. "Who said that we need an alternative?". Furthermore one may also ask "Are these so called alternatives really different to their popular counterparts?" and "Are the underlying philosophies of both the same or different?".

No doubt these are difficult and deep questions that many would not dare to ask. However if we are concerned about our spiritual and psychological well being and the well being of our future generations then it is important that we ask these question and find the answers to them. The seminar coming up this Saturday by Shaykh Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi, one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the Western world, will touch upon these deep questions and offer practical solutions for individuals, families and communities. The first of its kind in the UK. Please book your place now.

A full-day seminar on the concepts of recreation and leisure in Islam and the Islamic view on modern day phenomena such as music, entertainment, television, movies, games, sports, “weekends”, holidays, shopping, fashion, socialising and celebrations.

Monday, 9 December 2013

<<Read! In the name of your Lord who created: He created man from a clinging form. Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One who taught by [means of] the pen, who taught man what he did not know.>> [Qur'an 96:1-5]

These were the first verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam. They indicate the profound nature of deep and meaningful reading (as opposed to superficial reading). But sadly we Muslims today are the furthest from this type of reading.

Why is this the case?

“The reader must come armed , in a serious state of intellectual readiness. This is not easy because he comes to the text alone. In reading, one's responses are isolated, one's intellect thrown back on its own resources. To be confronted by the cold abstractions of printed sentences is to look upon language bare, without the assistance of either beauty or community. Thus, reading is by its nature a serious business. It is also, of course, an essentially rational activity.” - Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves To Death

"Reading is by its nature a serious business" says Postman. He also says "People of a television culture need “plain language” both aurally and visually, and will even go so far as to require it in some circumstances by law." This gives a clue. If this was the case in the early 80s with the "television culture" we can imagine how it is now with the television plus sms, twitter and facebook culture.

There is only one way out of this. Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi, one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the Western world today, will be discussing the problems and the solutions in great detail in the seminar coming up in London and Online Worldwide, InshaAllah.

Friday, 6 December 2013

“When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience, and their public business a vaudeville (theatrical) act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture-death is a clear possibility.” - Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

"Hard Talk" on Recreation, Leisure & Entertainment with Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi coming soon to a city near you on Saturday 14th December 2014. Book your place now before it is too late.

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

"Amusing Ourselves to Death" is the title of a book written in 1985
by the famous social critic Neil Postman. The book is introduced as
follows:

Are We on The Verge of Culture-Death?

In this book Neil Postman, Professor of
Communication Arts and Sciences at New York University, argues
eloquently and convincingly that television is transforming our culture
into one vast arena for show business in which all public affairs - politics, religion, news, education, journalism, commerce
- have been turned into a form of entertainment. Amusing Ourselves to
death is an urgent plea for us to question what is happening before it
is too late.

In the thirty years that have since followed, the
information and technology revolution has led to the widespread use of
internet and mobile communication. It is not just the television that is
transforming our culture today but also all the various forms of social
media and mobile technology. It is more intense and intrusive than ever before!

So how should a Muslim cope with these changes?
Should we adapt to them or resist them? Has Islam been turned into a
form of entertainment already with the various "Islamic" TV channels,
"Islamic" movies, "Islamic" cartoons, "Islamic" comedy shows, "Islamic"
concerts, "Islamic" holidays, "Islamic" singers, "Islamic" hip-hop,
"Islamic" speakers, "Islamic" fashion, "Islamic" websites, "Islamic"
conferences, "Islamic" novels and "Islamic" education?

Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi has a lot to say on this subject. So
this is your opportunity to gain a deeper, more meaningful
understanding of the philosophy of recreation, leisure and entertainment
from one of the foremost thinkers and Islamic scholars in the Western
world today. This is a seminar presented for the first time in the UK
that would help you and your family choose the best and the most
holistic forms of leisure and recreation.

Please sign up now without delay - only a very limited number seats available.